Moss Officially Joins The Raiders

NFL - The Beat

March 3, 2005

WR Randy Moss joined the Raiders on Wednesday when Oakland completed a trade with the Minnesota Vikings for the receiver. Moss was introduced by his new team in an afternoon news conference. The Raiders were working to restructure his base salary of more than $7 million into a more cap-friendly signing bonus to be prorated over future years. Fans showed up early at the team's practice facility to see Moss, who arrived in a limousine escorted by seven police officers on motorcycles.

BUCS SIGN KICKER BRYANT

Former New York Giants K Matt Bryant signed a contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bryant was with the Giants in 2002-03 and spent time with Indianapolis and Miami in 2004. The Bucs released Martin Gramatica on Nov. 30, replacing him with former Orlando Predators K Jay Taylor.

RAVENS SNAG MASON

WR Derrick Mason has agreed in principle to a five-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens, giving the team one of the most desirable receivers on the free-agent market and filling the most glaring need of a team that ranked 31st in passing last season. Mason was second in the NFL with 96 receptions last season.

BENGALS RE-SIGN WIDEOUT

The Cincinnati Bengals re-signed WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh to a four-year contract. Houshmandzadeh, one of the more attractive free agents this year after a breakout season in 2004, grabbed 73 passes for 978 yards and four touchdowns. Re-signing him and RB Rudi Johnson have been the Bengals' top priorities this offseason. The Bengals said Johnson has been told by his agent that a signing might be imminent.

JAGUARS SIGN HAYWARD

The Jacksonville Jaguars signed free-agent DE Reggie Hayward to a five-year contract, filling one of their primary needs and bolstering a line anchored by Pro Bowl Ts Marcus Stroud and John Henderson. Hayward was with the Denver Broncos. The Jaguars also hired Mark Michaels as assistant special teams coach.

ELSEWHERE

Oft-injured RB Correll Buckhalter agreed to a two-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. Buckhalter, who tore the patellar tendon in his right knee in August, is coming off his second season-ending knee injury in three years. . . . The St. Louis Rams signed former Dallas Cowboys LB Dexter Coakley to a five-year contract. . . . The Minnesota Vikings agreed to terms with veteran DT Pat Williams, helping shore up their defensive line. . . . The Indianapolis Colts released veteran TE Marcus Pollard, saving the team an immediate $2.65 million against the salary cap. Other Colts starters who became free agents included G Rick DeMulling, S Idrees Bashir, CB Nick Harper and MLB Rob Morris. . . . The Cleveland Browns traded DT Gerard Warren to the Broncos for a fourth-round selection in this year's draft. Completion of the deal is contingent upon Warren passing a physical. . . . The New England Patriots declined an option on WR/DB Troy Brown, allowing the 12-year veteran to become a free agent. . . . The Cowboys signed former Browns CB Anthony Henry to a five-year contract.